Evidence of meeting #37 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
I have two quick questions, and then I'll pass it over to my colleague Jamie Schmale.
Minister Alty, I have a quick question.
On the Giant Mine remediation project, are you currently benefiting or have you personally benefited from the project?
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Thank you.
Minister Chartrand, the Giant Mine remediation project has grown from a once-budgeted $467 million to $4.4 billion. Of that, $200 million has been paid to consultants. Of the training paid for by the project, fewer than 50% of the people getting training dollars are actually working on the project.
It's so bad that this committee voted to have the Auditor General audit the entire project. What are you doing, Minister, to get the project back on track?
Liberal
Rebecca Chartrand Liberal Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Thank you for that question.
I know that this is one of the most complex environmental remediations. Our focus is on protecting the environment and public safety. As you know, there are 239,000 tonnes of arsenic dust, which is the by-product of diamond mining.
Our focus is on making sure the measure of success is not only whether we're on time, but also that we're achieving the results that we intend to—that is, ensuring that we are keeping people safe and the environment safe, as well as that we continue to monitor this.
According to the Giant Mine Oversight Board, we are on time and on budget with this. We continue to see benefits for northerners through procurement through the project—
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Thank you, Minister. That's my time.
Conservative
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
Yes. I'm sorry. I wasn't sure if we were getting in another round.
Liberal
Conservative
Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley Township—Fraser Heights, BC
Thank you. I'll try to be fast.
Minister Alty, you'll be aware that British Columbia has adopted UNDRIP into its legal framework. We call it “DRIPA” in British Columbia.
You'll also be aware that the B.C. courts are quite willing to enforce that as positive law, immediately justiciable. I think that is the language they use.
You'll be aware that Premier David Eby was quite surprised with that and promised to amend or suspend DRIPA. Then he faced a caucus revolt and backed off from that.
In addition to all that trouble around UNDRIP in British Columbia, he is now facing an additional challenge, and that is the challenges from U.S. first nations groups. In September 2025, the Washington-based Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court, saying that B.C. has the duty to consult with them around mining projects. Then, a couple of months later, the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission and its 14-member Alaska native tribes did the same.
Minister Alty, are you or your government at all concerned that B.C.'s form of UNDRIP is a threat to Canadian sovereignty?
Liberal
Rebecca Alty Liberal Northwest Territories, NT
The provincial legislation, we wouldn't comment on, but the—
Conservative
Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley Township—Fraser Heights, BC
You can comment on national sovereignty.
Liberal
Rebecca Alty Liberal Northwest Territories, NT
For sure, and I can pass this to the deputy minister to explain a little further what we're monitoring in regard to the U.S.
Valerie Gideon Deputy Minister, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
We had the Desautel court decision, which provided us with a bit of guidance around what we needed to consider in terms of our consultation and accommodation guidelines federally.
We've not had to engage with U.S. tribes in any kind of significant way at this time, but we did bring forward some advice to government at that time about how we would approach that and how we would measure the possibilities for impact. We've not had any type of active conversations at this time.
Conservative
Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley Township—Fraser Heights, BC
Shouldn't you be having active conversations with the Attorney General of British Columbia around this? It is a direct threat to Canadian national unity and sovereignty that we have out-of-country first nations threatening to hold up national projects.
Deputy Minister, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
We work very collaboratively with the B.C. government on a number of measures. They come to us if they require any advice, support or participation with respect to any discussions they are having, but we have not been engaged in those conversations at this time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Terry Sheehan
Thank you very much.
We are now going to beautiful Victoria. MP Greaves, you have five minutes.
Liberal
Will Greaves Liberal Victoria, BC
Good morning, Chair. Thank you.
Good morning, colleagues.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here today.
My first question is for Minister Alty. It is in a similar vein to that of my colleague opposite a moment ago.
As you're aware, in British Columbia, there have been very active discussions about questions pertaining to aboriginal title. I'm hoping, Minister, that you can speak to the recently signed agreement between Canada and the Musqueam Indian Band.
As you're aware, this agreement strengthens the Musqueam's role in fisheries stewardship and marine emergency management on the British Columbia coast. This agreement represents a major step toward reconciliation and the implementation of the Musqueam's aboriginal rights under section 35 of the Constitution. However, we have heard, unfortunately, a great deal of either confusing information or, in some cases, misinformation in British Columbia.
I'm hoping you can explain for the committee, Minister, and perhaps for Canadians watching, what the Musqueam agreement achieves and, equally, what it does not mean. How does this agreement reflect and entrench the rights of the Musqueam, while maintaining the rights of Canadians under the Constitution as well?
Liberal
Rebecca Alty Liberal Northwest Territories, NT
I think it's easiest to start with what it doesn't do. The first thing is it does not affect private property. There are three agreements, as you said. One is an agreement on fisheries and stewardship; there's another one on marine emergency management, and then there's a framework for collaboration, which is about how we can work government to government with the Musqueam. The importance of this is sitting down at the table and working through the details, as opposed to litigation, whereby the courts decide and can leave a bit of confusion or uncertainty.
Really, the importance of these agreements is how they respect the rights of indigenous peoples, establish how Canada and the first nation will work together and how they will increase certainty for both indigenous and non-indigenous communities, businesses and people. Being able to sit down and work together on fisheries and marine stewardship is a really important part of these agreements.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Will Greaves Liberal Victoria, BC
Thank you very much, Minister. I appreciate that response.
I'll quickly turn to Minister Chartrand. Thank you for being here with us.
Prior to being elected last year, in my previous career, I was an academic focused on questions of Arctic security and defence, so your portfolio is very near and dear to my heart. It's something I've taken a great interest in for many years.
I'm wondering if you could please elaborate, Minister, on how you see the government's Arctic defence spending commitments as being integrated with the interests and needs of communities. Specifically, what are the best opportunities for the government to make defence investments that will best support northerners in all the other aspects of their life as well?
Liberal
Rebecca Chartrand Liberal Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
[Technical difficulty—Editor] the people who live in the Arctic. I don't know if my mic was on.
In Inuvik, for example, CanNor is supporting the Nihtat Gwich'in Council to prepare local workers and businesses for defence-related issues, cybersecurity readiness and skilled employment. That is one example. That means more northern suppliers—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Terry Sheehan
Minister, I apologize for interrupting. Before you go to the second example, the bells are going on for a call for a vote, so I'll ask the committee if we have unanimous consent to continue. I see nodding heads. I have a thumbs-up. Okay, we're good.
I apologize for interrupting. I stopped the time.
Continue with your second example. That's where you were.